Therapeutic apparatus



W. MEYER.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24.1920.

Patented Aug. 16,-1921..

UNITED STATES WILIJZAI KEYED,- OI' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

Specification of LettenPatent. Patented Aug. 16 1921- Application filedJune 24, 1920. Serial Io. 891,273.

To allwhomz'tma concern:

Be it known t at 1, WILLIAM MEYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certaln new and useful Improvement in Therapeutic A paratus,of which the following is a full 0 ear, concise, and exact description,re erence being had to the accompanying drawmgs, formi a part of thisspecification.

My mvention relates to therapeutic apparatus, and more particularly to ah gh tension electrode for admmlster electrical treatments to internalorgans 0 the body such as the prostate gland.

While my. invention is particularl useful and ada ted for use to thisparticu ar part, and whi e I am illustrating one particular embodiment,it is, of course, to be understood that the fundamental principleunderlying this invention is not necessarlly limlted to a prostaticelectrode, but is applicable to any electrode, whether of analogousform, or dissimilar form.

I-Ieretofore, thisform of electrode comrised a las vacuum electrodehaving a ulbous siiaped tip adapted for insertion, an insulated glassmantle and a. handle serving as one terminal. The glass mantle isdisposed contained therein surrounding the tip and handle and insulatedby means of a body of air between the tube connecting the tip andhandle, which are exhausted of air to a degree where high frequencywaves will be transmitted. The entire surface of the tip imparted or wastransparent to the current, thereby presenting the difliculty of beingunable to control or concentrate the dischar e to any particular point.I have found t at, in the application of therapeutic treatments to theinternal organs, it is more feasible and often times necessary, due tothe sensitiveness of the delicately constructed tissues which generallysurround the part to be treated, to concentrate the high frequencycurrent only on the part being treated without imparting the current to,or disturbing the ad oining parts; thereby greatly reducing thediscomforture of the patient.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an electrode havingthe insert end both opaque and transparent to the transmission of highfrequency current, so that current may be controlled and concentratedthrough the transparent portion at the organ to be treated without beingimparted to the surroundin tissues.

A further 0 ject of the invention is to provide an electrode for use intreatment of internal organs, which are accessible only through anorifice, which will localize the discharge of high frequency current toa certam surface on the tip adapted for insert1on and treatment, andthereby enable the therapist to concentrate the discharge only on theaffected organs.

Accordingto my invention, I provide an electrode having an outer lasstube in which is disposed a smaller tu e. This interior tube connectswith the handle at one end, the other end terminating in a suitableportion which is fused with the surface of the outer glass tube, forcooperating with the organ to be treated. The interior tube, togetherwith the handle is coated with a medmm having electro-conductivequalities, thereby obviatin the necessity of exhausting thls portion 0the electrode.

As a further object of my invention, an insulating medium better thanair may be employed between the outer lass tube and the interior tube.This insu ating medium is allowed to surround the tip thereby preventingthe waves from propagating about the tip except where the two tubes arefused together.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrode which willbe highly efiicient in its operation, inexpensive in construction, yetdurable in its use.

In order to apprise those skilled in the art, how to construct andpractise the use of my invention and I shall now describe one preferredembodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which formpart of the specification.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan View of an electrode embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

The electrode 5 shown in the drawings comprises the outer glass tube 6or mantle and the inner glass tube 7, both of which may be of anyothersuitable dielectric. One end of the tube 6 is formed into a handle8, while the distal end is formed bulbous shape, as indicated at 9. Theinner tube 7 is inserted in the tube 6 While the handle 8 is formed, theadjacent end of the tube the organ.

7 being enlarged and joined to the handle by means of fusing, which isindicated at 10, so as to render the interior of the tubeincoinmunicalblewith the tube 6. The handle 8 is formed at any suitableangle to the remaining part of the electrode, which has for its purposethe providing of'a convenient grip for the operator. It is, of course,to be understood that the design, shape or form will alter and varyaccording to the diiferent uses to which the electrode will be ut.

he front end, or what may be termed the insertion end, of the tube 7 isalso pro- Vided with a bulbous portion 11, adapted to lie within thebulb 9 without contacting with the sides thereof except at the portiondesignated 12. This portion 12 represents the part of the electrodewhich comes in contact with the organ to be treated, the shape of whichvaries with the contour of In this instance, it is dished or concave andthe bulb 11, having a cooperating surface, is fused thereto. While it isshown and mentioned that this cooperating surface of the tube 11 isfused with the dished portion of the bulbous tip 9, I am aware of thefact that any suitable con-' nection may be provided, such as insertinga conductor between the two portions or other member which may becapable of transmitting the current. The purpose underlying thlsarrangement is to provide the tip 9 opaque to the transmission of thecurrent except at the dished portion 12, which is transparent to thetransmission.

The end of the handle 8 is provided with an opening 13 which permits theinterior thereof to communicate with the atmosphere. The inner walls ofthe handle 8, tube 7 and bulb 11, are coated with a medium 15 of highconductivity such as silver or the like. This permits the high frequencywaves to be conducted through this portion of the electrode. In practicethe electrode may be attached to any terminal of any source of currentof suitable frequency and voltage, depending upon the adaptation of thedevice. Current is taken through the handle, which serves as oneterminal and concentrating a dischar e at the portion 12.

In prior devices the insulation of the portion of the electrodes betweenthe handle S and bulb' 9, was accomplished by means of a body of airobtained by providing atmospheric vents therein.

I have found that if the current is to be confined and localized to someparticular discharging area, a more efiicient operation may be securedif an insulating medium other than air is employed, so as to surroundthe bulb 11 and tube 7. I contemplate using such an insulating medium14, such as oil or other material having suitable insulation qualities,which may be poured into the tube through any suitable inlet, not shown.

It is to be understood that while I have I other than air, may, beapplied equally as.

well to other electrodes.

I claim:

1. An electrode having, in combination, insert and handle end portions,separated by an intermediate portion, telescoped tubes with closed innerends, forming said intermediate and insert end portions, the inner tubebeing enlarged to hermetically seal the other tube, and extending beyondthe same to form the handle end portion.

2. An electrode having, in combination, telescoping tubes with closedinner ends, the inner tube terminatin tube, said, tubes lying in contactat one side over a limited area corresponding in size and shape to theorgan to be treated, and a short of the other dielectric medium spacingthe ends and sides of the tubes to prevent the discharge of currentexcept where the two tubes are in contact.

3. An electrode for treating an organ so located that the electrode canbe positioned adjacent thereto but not inserted therein, comprising, incombination, tubes spaced apart and separated by a dielectric, exceptfor a contact area at one side of the tube, whereby the discharge fromthe electrode is directed laterally away from the same.

4. An electrode for treating an organ so located that the electrode mustbe positioned beside the same, comprising insert and handle end portionsseparated by an intermediate portlon of suflicient length to positionthe insert end adjacent the organ, the entire outer surfaces of saidintermediate and insert end portions being opaque to the passage ofcurrent, except for a small area on one side of the insert end ortion.

5. A11 electrode for dehvering a localized flow of current from apredetermined portion of its area, comprising telescoping tubes incontact only over said area, the condition of the space between saidtubes being such that it has greater insulating strength than am 6. Anelectrode for concentrating the action of the current delivered therebyon an organ lying at one side of said electrode, comprising a tubehaving a dished portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the organ,with its concavity facing the Same, and

means for roducing a current discharge from the dished portion of theelectrode only.

7. An electrode having, in combination, a tube, said tube having aportion of one side dished about a center laterally spaced from saidtube, and means for producing a discharge of current from said dishedportion only.

8. An electrode for treating an organ to which direct access cannot behad, comprising a dielectric tube, means for positioning said tube asnear said organ as possible, and means for producing a localizeddischarge of current from the portions of said tube nearest the organ.

9. An electrode, having, in combination telescoped tubes, separated by aspace of high dielectric strength, a portion of the inner tube adjacentits end lying in contact with the outer tube to define the area ofdischarge.

10. An electrode having, in combination, telescoped tubes separated by aspace of high dielectric strength, a predetermined portion of said tubeslying in contact to define the area of discharge, the inner tube beingenlarged to seal the end of the outer tube and continued to form ahandle portion.

11. An electrode having, 1n combination, telescoped tubes separated by ahermetically sealed space of high dielectric strength.

12. An electrode having, in combination, an outer tube of substantiallyconstant diameter, and a combined inner tube and handle telescopedWithin said outer tube, said handle formingashoulder Where it joins theinner tube, said shoulder sealing the outer tube, said tubes lying incontact over a predetermined portion of their surfaces to define thearea of discharge.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of June,1920.

WILLIAM MEYER.

